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I can never quite understand how seemingly intelligent, good-minded people cannot see the difference between good and evil. It seems to be a common problem, especially with politicians. I want to assume (perhaps erroneously) that policy makers are well-informed, which means they should be able to recognize the firefighters from the arsonists. Unfortunately, this typically does not seem to be the case. I suspect it has more to do with being dishonest to the public in order to accomplish some goal. Politicians are gifted with this ability.

Case in point: The Jerusalem Post has an article about the opinions of European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek regarding Palestinian statehood.

He wants to make it clear that the European Union does not oppose a declaration of Palestinian statehood by the UN General Assembly. He just thinks a negotiated solution is preferable, but he obviously supports Palestinian statehood either way regardless of the consequences.

“I never said that I or the European Union opposes a unilateral declaration,” Buzek said. “I said that it is better to negotiate the solution. It is much better to have a dialogue and understanding.”

“Unilateral declarations or decisions are not the best solution, but let me be frank,” he added. “Your [Israel’s] decisions about settlements are also unilateral, and have not been the best decisions. The Palestinians may not be making the best decision, but the settlements have complicated negotiations.”

Back to this old and tired strategy: affordable housing is an obstacle to peace.

The last “rightful owner” of Palestine was Great Britain when it seized the land from the defeated Ottoman Empire. With British approval, the land was divided by the United Nations into two portions: one for the Jews and one for the Arabs. The Jewish portion became Israel which was immediately attacked by the neighboring Arab nations. Israel survived and everyone within the borders of Israel was granted citizenship — Arabs included.

What happened to the other half of Palestine which was destined for the Arabs? It was seized and annexed by Jordan and became “the West Bank” of Jordan. Given this, I suppose it makes sense that those living in the West Bank of Jordan should have been given Jordanian citizenship. The point is that there never was an independent state of Palestine and, after losing the land to Israel in 1967, Jordan officially dissolved its link to the West Bank in 1988. So, exactly how is the land occupied if there is no rightful owner?

The simple truth is that the land is not “occupied” — the correct term is “disputed.” As a result, Israel has just as much right to build on this land as anyone else. In fact, Israel has a greater right.

The fact that the settlements have complicated negotiations is certainly true, but there would have been no need for any negotiations (at any time) if the Arabs were not hell-bent on destroying the Jewish state. This problem exists 100% because of Arab aggression and blood-lust.

Buzek said that in his meeting with the Palestinians on Wednesday, the PA did not say they would recognize Israel as a Jewish state, nor did they discuss possible compromises over the refugee issue.

“We know there is a problem with refugees, and it should be solved in some way, but what is most important is that we should sit down and start negotiating without preconditions,” he said. “Sit down and start, and then we’ll see which problem is most difficult, which to start from, whether it’s the refugees or borders or Jerusalem.”

There is no point negotiating with someone who is not negotiating in good faith. Let’s start with what should be the simplest and easiest point: Israel has a right to exist as a Jewish state. If we cannot agree on this simple concept, then there is no point on additional discussions.

In my view, there is no point in discussing Jerusalem or refugees. Thankfully, Israel legally annexed all of Jerusalem and they are not entitled to any of it. Discussing refugees is really a discussion of allowing Arabs (and their children and their children’s children, etc.) to return to land within Israel. Why would Israel grant citizenship to people who openly express the desire to destroy her? It is a non-starter. Let’s allow the displaced American Indians to return to Manhattan. It sounds ludicrous even though the Indians don’t want to destroy New York, so how much more ludicrous is this? Besides, as I already mentioned, how is there any refugee problem? Everyone who was inside of the borders of Israel was already granted citizenship.

Buzek did not answer a question about the legality of European Parliament members joining the upcoming flotilla to Gaza, calling the humanitarian situation there “a sad story.”

Refusing to answer only means there is no way to spin it into a neutral sounding explanation.

“Observe how people in Gaza live. It looks horrible,” he said. “The humanitarian disaster is terrible; let’s solve it in the best possible way.”

Gaza has malls and country clubs. Arabs were actually smuggling food out of Gaza and into Egypt several months ago. Give me a break.

The Europeans have a history of not being capable of telling the difference between the good guys and the bad guys. I think I can use two World Wars as evidence (with a third one brewing). Now is the time to put an end to this charade, but the EU will want to delay, and talk, and appease until it is too late.

Of course, the Europeans have their own self-made, Muslim immigration problems and their desire to appease probably has a lot to do with their own immediate safety.

Regardless, I think a UN declaration of Palestinian statehood might be a good thing. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has some thoughts (perhaps threats) on the topic.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said in a meeting with his EU counterpart Catherine Ashton on Friday that if the Palestinians unilaterally declare statehood, it will bring an end to the Oslo Accords.

“A move like that will be a violation of all the agreements that were signed until today,” Lieberman said. “Israel will no longer be committed to the agreements signed with the Palestinians in the past 18 years.”

All those years of terrible Israeli concessions eliminated in a single stroke.